Vending machine



March 5, 1940. 2,192,637

s. BRILL ET A1.

' vENDING MACHINE- Filed Aug. 27, 193s 2 sheets-sheet 1 ezio lill

l lll/l//l/ gel: g i .5554.59

m, .#5 F194# R75 F275- 6 l me March 5, 1940. s. BRILL 5T AL VENDINGMACHINE Filed Aug. 27, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l Patented Mar. 5, 1940VENDIN G MACHINE samuel Brill and Clifford C. r. Clarke, Toronto,Ontario, Cana-da Application August .27, 193s, serial No. 227,104

In Canada 2 claims; (Cl. 194-73) This invention appertains to 'vending'`machines, and more particularly to coin-actuated machines for vendinglead pencils and the like, and the objects of the invention are: (l) tovend i one or more lead pencils. at al time by means of discharged fromthe machine so that onlyone pencil, as the case may be, can be obtainedfor one coin; (4) to hold the operating plunger in positive engagementwith the coincage as the said plunger is pushed in to insure thedischarge of a pencil from the machine, and.(5) to permanently attachthe operating mechanism of this machine to a back-wall to make Ythe samea flxed unit .therewith andattach this unit permanently to a wall orother support so thatthe case en-4 closing said mechanism maybe readilyuncoupled therefrom to permit replenishing of supplies, and thus obviateany possibility'of the op' erating parts being injured through beingaccidently dropped on the floor. v

Broadly considered, the invention comprises a carrier frame mountedtohaveihorizontalmovement on suitable supportingmeans carried by one ormore supporting bars. The carrier'frame is spring-controlled and isconstructed toreceive one or more pencils from fixed hoppers located inspaced relation thereabove, lrneansfbeingv provided to move said carrierframe to dislodge the pencil resting upon one of said supportingl barsto ultimately cause it to be discharged from the machine. Aspring-provided plunger is `associated with a coin cage, .which isadapted to have its center of gravity changed when a coin is heldthereby, means being provided when saidl plunger is operated to dislodgesaid coin from its cage and to operate means to move said car rierframe, for the purpose stated.

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of. themachine on a reduced scale as itappears with the casing in place. Fig. 2 is a front elevation, on anenlarged scale, of the operating parts of the machine. Fig. 3 is avertical section on the line. 3 3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a plan view oftheoper-v ating plunger. and the coin cage, in normal-position, withsupporting bars. "Fig, 5 isv ansection on the. line 5-5,.Fig.3,.particularly through-the;

coin cage. Fig. 6 is a vertical section. on the -line 6 6, Fig. '1,through the vpartof the coin-,receiving chute carried vby the casing.Fig. 7 illustrates detail views in elevation of the yinner end of theoperating plunger, and Fig. 8 is a 5 detail view, partly insection,.showinginside elevation a portion of. the lever for-conveyingmotion to theejector-frame'suitably iormedto insure positive engagementtherewith of the coin cage plate. I l

In the drawings, like characters of r.reference refer to the same parts.

2 is the back-wall of. the machine, and it is provided at top and bottomwith battensl 3 attached thereto by any suitable means. This 15 backwall is permanently attached to: any suitable support such as the .wall4 of a room. Attached to the back Wall 2 are `the operating parts of themachine hereinafter described in detail.v These 'operating parts areenclosed in a casing 20 composed Vo-i a front wall 6, side walls 7, top8, and a bottom 9. The top portion 5 ofthe top batten 3Y is rebatedleaving a space-between this top portion and the wall 4 to receive the:flange I0 of the said casing. When the casing isjplaced 25 in positionthe flange I0 is passed into the said space, and .then thebottom Siy isplaced Awithits ange I I against the bottom'batten. In the lower portionof the wall t is formed an aperture `I2 through which access is had tothe bottom =of :a said casing. This aperture is formed by partiallycutting the said frontwalland bending the cutportion ofsaid wallinwardly tllusforming a deflecting plate I3. Associated* withthe bottom9 is a chute I4 which isin lengthsome-i 35 what-longer than. theaperture I2. A plate abuts against each endof thev said chute, one ofthese plates being shown at l5 in Fig. 3. itt-is any suitablelockattached .to the lower-portion of the wall 2, and access is hadthereto through the o aperture I2 as Wellas through the opening ilformed in the chute I4. When the casing has been positioned asdescribed, andi clearly sho-wn in Fig. 3, a bolt I8 of the lock is movedto rest against the inner side ofthe flange .I I, thus locking thecasing to the back wall 2.

x Vertically formed in the wall t is an aperture I9, and this yapertureis closed by any suitable transparent material 20, such as glass. Thearticle vended will be visible through said aper- 50 ture.

The rebated portion 5 is so yformed that after unlocking. the casing,when .the bottom part thereof is pulled away from the back wall 2, the

casing will pivot aroundthe flange IIJ to-permit 551 the casing to bedisengaged. While the construction of the casing has been particularlydescribed, it must be understood that any suitable type of casing may beused and that the claims are not to be construed as limited to the saidconstruction.

This machine can be constructed to vend simultaneously one or morearticles, though it is limited as constructed to vend at most twoarticles. 2| are vertical chutes U-shaped in horizontal section, and invending pencils and the like these chutes are located in pairs spacedapart as shown clearly in Fig. 2. 22 are vertical plates suitably tiedtogether at their lower portions by means of supporting bars 23 whichrest The plates 22 are attached to These upon brackets 24. theirassociated chutes 2| by plates 25. plates are in turn suitably coupledwall 2, by means of brackets 26. Each pair of chutes form what might betermed a hopper.

As illustrated in Fig, 3, there are two pairs of hoppers, and when twopairs are used these may be tiedv together by tie bars 21. The lower tiebar 21 may be suitably supported from the plates 22, as by means of thebrackets 28. 29 is a tie bar coupling together the lower ends of thevertic-al chutes forming the rear hopper.

Located underneath the chutes 2| in spaced relation thereto is a carrierframe, which, when two pairs of chutes are used, is composed of threehorizontal spaced-bars 30 located in the same plane. These bars extendbetween the plates 22 and are tied together at each end by plates 3|which have movement longitudinally of the brackets 32 which are securedto the supporting bars 23. These brackets are attached at their innerends 33 to the back wall 2. At each side of the machine is a springhousing 34 in which is housed a coiled spring 35. The inner end of eachspring is suitably secured to its associated housing, and the outer endof each spring is suitably secured to a vertical plate 36 forming partof each bracket 32. Each spring housing is attached to the bars 36, andslides underneath a bracket 31 attached to each plate 22. 38 is arock-shaft suitably supported by the plates 22. Mounted on and suitablysecured to said rockshaft are slotted levers 39l. Extending through theslot of each lever is a stud 40. Each of these studs is suitably securedto the top side of its associated spring housing 34. The end 4| of therock-shaft projects beyond its associated plate 22 and suitably keyed onthis end is a lever 42 which normally occupies a vertical position. 43

' is a plunger which projects through the front wall of the casing (seeFig. 1) and also through the iront wall 44 of the frame that supportsthe operating parts immediately associated with the coin cage. Thisframe in addition to the said front wall 44, consists of a side wall 45and a rear wall 46 which is suitably attached to the back wall 2. Thewalls 44 and 46y are also attached to the associated wall 22 as shownclearly in Figs. 2 and 4. The inner end oi the plunger rests in a slot41 formed in the back wall 2, and it will be noted upon referringparticularly to Fig. 2, that the said plunger is located between theassociated wall 22 and the lever 42. Carried by the said plunger is acollar 48 the normal position of which is in contact with the inner sideof the wall 44. 49 is a coiled spring mounted on the plunger 43, thesame is held between the wall 46 and the clamp 50 mounted on saidplunger. This spring returns the plunger to normal posi'- tion, and thecollar 48 limits the outward move-l to the back ment of said plunger bycontact with the wall 44. 5| is a rod suitably supported by the walls 44and 46. The coin cage 52 is mounted on this rod by means of the ears 53carried by the plate 54 of said cage. 55 is a coiled spring mounted onthe rod 5| between the collar secured at the inner end of said rod andthe inner ear 53. The function of this spring is to insure the return ofthe coin cage to normal position underneath the coin chute, with one ofthese ears 53 more or less in contact with a collar 56 mounted on therod 5|.

'I'he coin cage is without a top and is composed of side walls 51 andend walls 58. One of said side walls is provided with an inturneddeflecting plate 59 which is spaced apart from the deecting plate 600ithe other side wall, the latter deilecting plate extending considerablybelow the plate 59. Each end wall 58 is formed to extend inwardlytowards each other to form anges 6| to retain the coin.

When a coin is passed through the slot 62 formed in the front wall 6 ofthe casing, it passes into a chute. 63 carried by said front wall and inits downward passage strikes against a deecting plate 64 located belowsaid chute and suitably carried by said front wall. This delecting plate64 (see Figs. 2 and 6) directs the coin into the mouth 65 of the chute66 with the result that as the coin passes from said chute it passesbetween the walls 51 of the coin cage and is deected by the plate 59against the plate 6|) and between the flanges 6| where it lodges. In thenormal position of the coin cage the weight 61 keeps the coin cage inthe position shown in full lines in Fig. 2 so that it will be inposition to receive a coin. In other words, the weighted end of theplate 54 overbalances the rest of this plate and the coin cage. But whenthe weight of the coin is added to that of the said coin cage and itsimmediate associated portion of the plate 54, this cage and its plateare moved around the rod 5| into the position shown by dotted lines inFig. 2. In this position the weighted end of the plate 54 is moved intothe path of movement of the collar 48 of the plunger 43. When thisplunger is pushed inwardly said collar will engage with said plate 54and move this plate and the coin cage along the rod 5| compressing thespring 55. Movement of the coin cage 52 is far enough to bring the coininto contact with the push bar 68 with the result that the coin isdislodged from between the flanges 6| and drops to the bottom oi' thecasing. When the plate 54 is being moved inwardly as described it willcome in contact with the lever 42 with the result that the rockshaft 38will be moved, thus moving the spring housing 34 and carrier framecomposed of the bars 30 inwardly elongating the springs 35. Before themovement just described takes place, a lead pencil 69 has dropped fromthe vertical chute 2| above the same on to one of the supporting bars 23where it rests between two of the bars 30. As the carrier frame is movedbackwardly through the movement of the spring housings 34, the pencil 69is moved to iinally pass into the dotted position shown in Fig. 3between the supporting bars 23 to finally drop on to the deecting plate|3 then on to the chute I4 to finally come to rest in contact with theflange a forming part of the bottom 9. In this position, the pencil canbe removed from the aperture |2.

In order to insure that the coin cage will be positively returned tonormal position, the side of the lever 42 engaged by the plate 54 isnotched. When the. lever 42' starts to `belnovedy backrtonormal-position one of the notches .thereof in contact with the plate 54will press' downwardly uponl` the said plate as it is being movedoutwardly and Athus exert a' thrust to movethesaid coin cage backtonormal position. Thisreturn movement ofthe. lever .42 is of coursefcaused by the springs. 35. In order to positively prevent anymanipulation of the plunger 43' so as to secure moreipe'ncils thanV paidfor, the movement ofthe associated parts just described is so timed thatshortlyafter .the'plunger starts to return to normal position throughthe action of the spring 49, the side of the plate 54 in engagement withthe lever 42 becomes quickly disengaged therefrom with the result thatthe carrier frame composed of the bars 3U is shot back to normalposition and so that there will be no possibility of the plunger 43being gradually permitted to return to normal position with the plate 54in contact with the lever 42, and then moved inwardly again to obtainmore pencils than have been paid for.

Obviously the chutes 2| will be filled wth pencils, and when a bar 30 ismoved thereunder passage of a pencil from said chutes will be preventedby said bars, and when said bars assume the positions shown in Fig. 3 apencil will drop into each of the slots between the said'bars 30 andrest upon their associated supporting bars 23.

Where two pencils are vended simultaneously, obviously the pencilpassing through the slot c (Fig. 3) will be ultimately discharged intothe bottom of the machine over the rear side of the supporting bar 23 atthe right-hand side of Fig. 3.

As the coin cage and its plate 54 are moved inwardly with the edge ofthis plate in contact with the toothed side of the lever 42 this leverwould act to move downwardly the plate in contact therewith thuselevating the coin cage and the coin carried thereby unless prevented sodoing. To prevent. this downward movement the inner face of the collar48 is toothed and will simultaneously engage with its associated side ofthe plate 54 as shown in Fig. 7 thus positively holding the said plateand its associated coin cage in position shown in dotted lines in Fig.2. While the plate 54 is so held, during its inward movement, it willobviously slide over one or more of the teeth formed on the lever 42,but will not when said inward movement ceases be out of contact with thesaid lever to insure the return of the coin cage back to normalposition, after the plunger 43 has been released.

The push bar 68, as shown clearly in Fig. 2, is directly in the path ofmovement of the coin, and will positively dislodge the same from thecoin cage. It is preferred to make this push bar more or less resilientin character so that in case a deformed or doctored into the coin cagethe said push bar will yield but yet maintain suicient contact with thecoin to insure its dislodgment.

'I'he preferred push bar consists of a coiled spring supported on a barb, suitably carried by the back wall 2.

It must be understood that a push bar made a stiff rod may be employedif desired.

While the coiled spring 55 is shown, thisv may be dispensed with sinceit is found in practice that the springs 35 when quickly returning thelever 42 land associated parts back to normal position will also,through contact of said lever against the plate 54 quickly force thisplate outwardly to permit the coin cage to assume norlowermost pencil incoin should be passed ymal-position. 'The .advantage of the spring 155resides .in'the factithat it will :positively remove :the associatedside of'thev plate 54 out vof contact .with the.- lever 42 and hold itout of contact so that this lever. -cannot prevent the return to.normalposition of the coin cage.v

""I'he,upward movement of the plate 54 when itoccupies the positionshown in Fig. 2 in dotted lines is limited Vby contact with the portionof the plunger behind the wall 44.beyond the collar 48. .lnthis positionthe said plate is positively in the. path'of movementof said collar.

.'.T'hel` clearance separating: the top sides of the bars of the carrierframe from the extreme lower ends of the chutes 2| is sufciently lessthan the transverse diameter of the article vended so that, for example,when the pencil 69 is being moyed into the slot between the supportingbars 23 the' the front pair of chutes 2| will ride upon the top of theleft-hand bar 30, and when the said carrier frame is returning to pencilextending partly into the said vertical chutes will ultimately drop intoalignment therewith. Thus it will be seen that the pencil extendingpartly into chutes 2l and resting upon one of the bars 30 acts as acheck against the downward movement of the column of pencils above it.

The side 45` acts. as a stop to limit upward movement of the coin cage.

What we claim as our invention is:

l. In a machine of the class described, in combination a suitable frame;a spring-controlled moved inward and thereby move said coin-cageinwardly on its supporting rod and means ,carried by said frame adaptedto displace said coin from said coin-cageas this latter is moved iii-T55wardly.

2. In a machine of asa rest. for the article upon; a spring-heldhorizontally-operated slotted member interposed between said holder andsaid fixed bar; a manually-operated spring-controlled plunger havingmovement in said frame; a rod held in said frame substantially parallelto said by said coin cage of suf- 7l cient weight to over-balance thislatter when from said cage as this latter is moved inwardly; empty tohold it in position to receive a coin a horizontal rod carried by saidframe; a toothed from said chute, and lying underneath said levercarried by said rod and depending thereplunger, the said coin cage whenholding a coin below and adapted to be moved by said plate as movingdownwardly to overbalance said plate this latter is moved inwardly tomove said rod and move it into contact with said plunger; a on itslongitudinal axis, and means actuated by collar carried by said plungerand toothed on its said rod to move said slotted member to disinner endand of greater diameter than said lodge the article resting on sa'dhorizontal bar plunger and adapted to engage said plate restand at thesame time cause said slotted member ing against said plunger when thislatter is to move beneath the discharge end of said holder 10 movedinward and thereby move said coin cage to prevent the escape of anarticle therefrom.

inwardly upon its supporting rod; means car- SAMUEL BRILL. fied by saidframe adapted to displace said coin CLIFFORD C. F. CLARKE.

